Game Mechanics: AC/Level Mitigation & Backstabs

[Aadill]

@Shiftin:

Originally Posted by Treats [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

10 DMG Piercer - (130) Magic Number, (293) Max hit
11 DMG Piercer - (143) Magic Number, (323) Max hit
12 DMG Piercer - (156) Magic Number, (352) Max hit
13 DMG Piercer - (169) Magic Number, (381) Max hit
14 DMG Piercer - (182) Magic Number, (411) Max hit
15 DMG Piercer - (195) Magic Number, (440) Max hit

Actually the magic number is a diminishing curve (13 points per level, diminishes from 9 to 6% gains per damage increase on weapon) and the max hit is also a diminishing curve (29-30 points per level, diminishes from 9 to 6% gains per damage increase on weapon)

As far as ATK not affecting damage distribution ATK SHOULD be shifting your damage HIGHER towards your magic number but not past it. I think that was said in that one link that went to a PDF file earlier in this thread (if not I kinda remember where it's at and I'll post it later). There were some other references to stuff that affects damage over all such as STR increasing max damage by a percentage but ATK only shifted a portion of your distribution upwards.

With that said, the way I understand it is that if your ATK shifts your minimum up to your magic number but your magic number is only 10 points higher, high AC mobs will mitigate that ATK bonus and bring you right back down to minimum. That's why with a 13 damage weapon you have slightly better chances because it's not 130 -> 120 but 169 -> 120. How many of your backstabs were greater than 120 but lower than 169 with your 13 damage weapon? How many more were above 169 than with a 10 damage weapon? That might clear some stuff up about ATK.


Also this:

Originally Posted by kanras [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Instead, the backstab damage is calculated, and if it's less than the minimum, the damage is set to the minimum.

I bet if you used a rusty dagger you'd see 95%+ minimum backstabs.